A Flatpack History of Sweden

55. Revenge of the Danes

After having purchased Skåne, King Magnus is keen to continue expanding the Swedish territories, but so is King Valdemar in Denmark. The two lock horns over control of land around the Baltic Sea. There is trouble brewing on the island of Gotland, and over in Danish-controlled Estonia, the local population is rising up. Back home King Magnus wants to ensure the line of succession is secured and make sure that there were laws in place to keep the people fighting for him in line. 

At the end of the episode we see how news of a devastating disease arrives from the European continent. Once it reaches Sweden, it will change the course of the country's history. 

56. The Black Death

The Black Death has arrived in Norway and Sweden. Magnus "hade häcken full" trying to deal with its consequences, as the plague spread throughout the countries. The Black Death affected everything; bringing major building projects to a halt, devastating entire parishes and towns, and putting a stop to potential war plans. Unfortunately, Magnus' best advice doesn't stop the spread of the disease and before long, half the country is dead. It is grim reading - or listening! 

Oh, and Chris throws a pillow at Åsa...! 

57. Here We War Again

Novgorod and Sweden have been involved in on and off conflict for a couple of centuries as we reach the end of the 1340s. Things go into overdrive at the end of the decade, as King Magnus of Sweden heads east, determined to convert the Novgorodians to his version of Christianity and take control over vital trade routes. Battles centre around the Orekhov/Nöteborg castle and things get so bad for Novgorod, they need to call on their Archbishop for help! Back home in Sweden, Magnus decides it is about time that there should be just one legal system for the entire country and embarks on an ambitious project of law reform!

We also ask for help in this episode, welcoming the excellent Bry from Pontifacts to read out a long quote for us. Check out Pontifacts wherever you get your podcasts, and follow them on Twitter for some Pope related fun: www.twitter.com/pontifactspod

 

 

58. The Road to Visby

This week it is all change in the Bjälbo dynasty in another action packed episode! We start off with King Magnus' son Håkon finally taking the throne of Norway as planned, in a relatively rare peaceful transition of power. This annoys elder brother Erik who attempts to grab more power for himself... We also see the Hanseatic League actually become the Hanseatic League and King Valdemar in Denmark still hasn't given up on his mission of restoring the entirety of the Danish Kingdom. 

We also finally have a new family tree! Find them all here: https://aflatpackhistoryofsweden.com/family-tree-gallery/ 

59. 1361 and the Battle of Visby

This is an extra special episode for two reasons! For the first time we have enough information to spend a whole episode focusing on just one battle, the Battle of Visby in 1361, and it is also our first ever interview episode. 

We speak to Thomas Neijman, PhD candidate in History at Stockholm University, an expert on the Battle of Visby and its modern day perceptions. In addition to his studies, Thomas is also a Swedish military officer, curator of the Swedish History Museum's exhibit on the battle and a re-enactor, making him the perfect person to explain the events of this tumultuous year and guide us through the exhibit itself. 

Listen as Chris interviews Thomas at the Swedish History Museum and hear them walk through the exhibit and look at some of the remains on display that Thomas helped to curate. 

Edit: Chris has recently (July 2024) visited Visby and recorded a video there. Check it out on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJw0M1-uTcg 

If you want to read more about the exhibit and the museum itself, you can find that information here: https://historiska.se/utstallningar/medieval-massacre/ 

60. Saint Birgitta, Religious Superstar

We've talked about her on and off for a while now, so we thought it was time for a biographical special! Known as Birgitta up until now in the timeline, minor spoilers as we examine the life of the lady known in Swedish history as Saint Birgitta. It will be a journey, both literal and metaphorical, filled with visions, politics and death. She also writes a lot of letters... 

S6. Tour of Skåne

It is time for another special episode! We recently spent a whole week in the county of Skåne and got to see a load of historical gems. In the chronological timeline, King Magnus has just possession of Skåne, so let's take a look at what he has had taken away from him.

Listen as we talk about the tower watchman of Ystad, the stone ship Ale Stenar, the fish of Simrishamn and much more!

(Please note, the next episode will be out on 24th July instead of 10th July as we take a short summer break.)

61. The Aftermath of Visby

We're back on track with our chronological narrative. We pick up where we left off after the battle of Visby in the summer of 1361. Gotland continues to suffer under its new Danish masters, but before long King Magnus decides to strike back. What follows is a Danish-Swedish-Norwegian-German-Hanseatic conflict in which alliances change quicker than in a Latin American soap opera. 

Make sure you listen to the very end, to hear a promo for a great podcast called the History of Saqartvelo Georgia! Check it out where ever you find your podcasts or visit their website - https://historyofsaqartvelo.com/ 

62. Don’t Kiss Albert, Kiss Bo Jonsson Grip

We continue with the whirlpool that is late 14th century Swedish politics. Rebelling Swedish noblemen, with Bo Jonsson Grip at the helm, are ready to take the fight to King Magnus, with the help of their new allies Mecklenburg. Young Albert of Mecklenburg will eventually be placed on the Swedish throne, but he's really just a figurehead, as behind the scenes it is his dad and the council that wield the real power. 

 

63. The One Where Everyone Dies

In the spirit of a title from Åsa's favourite TV show, this is the one where everyone dies. Sorry about the spoilers... 

In this episode, everything we have come to know and love/hate about Scandinavian politics for the last 30-40 years or so and that we have covered over the last 10 episodes comes crashing down. Who will be left standing at the end of the episode and who will fall victim to the Grim Reaper? It is going to be messy...

Do give Tsar Power a listen to; you can find them on Twitter and on their website, plus wherever you find your podcasts.

As always, we have another family tree available on our own website too.